BILL NO. 168

(as introduced)

1st Session, 64th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
71 Elizabeth II, 2022

 

Private Member's Bill

 

Former Children in Care Education Fund Act

 

Kendra Coombes
Cape Breton Centre–Whitney Pier

First Reading: April 14, 2022

Second Reading:

Third Reading:

 

An Act to Establish an Education Fund
for Former Children in Care

Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:

1 This Act may be cited as the Former Children in Care Education Fund Act.

2 In this Act,

(a) "former child in care" means a person who was formerly a child in care within the meaning of the Children and Family Services Act;

(b) "Fund" means the Former Children in Care Education Fund established under Section 3;

(c) "Minister" means the Minister of Advanced Education;

(d) "post-secondary education program" includes

(i) a baccalaureate degree program at a university,

(ii) a diploma or certificate program at a community college, or

(iii) a prescribed program at an accredited institution,

but does not include a post-graduate program, a continuing education program, a program for the completion of the Nova Scotia High School Graduation Diploma for Adults or General Education Development.

3 (1) The Former Children in Care Education Fund is hereby established.

(2) The objective of the Fund is to pay

(a) the tuition of former children in care for post-secondary education programs in the Province; and

(b) other prescribed educational expenses.

(3) The Fund consists of money appropriated for the Fund by the Legislature.

(4) The Minister is responsible for the supervision and administration of the Fund.

4 (1) Subject to Section 6 and the regulations, the Fund shall pay the tuition of any eligible person for a post-secondary education program in the Province and the prescribed educational expenses of that person.

(2) A person is eligible within the meaning of subsection (1) if the person

(a) is a former child in care;

(b) was a child in care for a cumulative period of at least 24 months;

(c) is at least 19 years of age and less than 27 years of age; and

(d) complies with the regulations.

(3) For greater certainty, eligibility under subsection (1) is not affected by

(a) the income of the person or the person's parents; or

(b) the amount of tuition, course load or course duration. 5 (1) The Minister may make regulations

(a) prescribing a program as a post-secondary education program;

(b) respecting accreditation for institutions;

(c) prescribing educational expenses for the purpose of clause 3(2)(b) and subsection 4(1);

(d) prescribing the number of terms or years for which payments may be made from the Fund for a person;

(e) respecting the procedure for applying to the Fund and the proof required to show eligibility or continued eligibility, including providing transcripts;

(f) respecting additional requirements for eligibility, including requirements to apply for scholarships and bursaries;

(g) respecting any matter or thing the Minister deems necessary or advisable to carry out effectively the intent and purpose of this Act.

(2) The exercise by the Minister of the authority contained in subsection (1) is a regulation within the meaning of the Regulations Act.

6 The money required for the purpose of this Act must be paid out of money appropriated for that purpose by the Legislature.

 

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